‘I was really touched by it’: Glenn reacts to Monica Lewinsky’s new essay for Vanity Fair

By Meghan
Updated 05/07/2014 | 2:20 PM EST

Vanity Fair’s May issue will not hit newsstands until May 8, but the publication released excerpts from an exclusive essay Monica Lewinsky penned for the magazine. Titled “Shame and Survival,” Lewinsky speaks openly about her affair with former President Bill Clinton writing, “It’s time to burn the beret and bury the blue dress.” On radio this morning, Glenn actually found himself sympathetic to some of the pain Lewinsky describes in the piece.

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“So yesterday I was riding home and I’m reading ‘Shame and Survival’ and this is the Vanity Fair portrait of Monica Lewinsky. And when you think of Monica Lewinsky, what do you think of? You think of the blue dress. But after reading this article, the one thing I had not thought of her as… was, you know, a girl and not a victim.”

In the essay, Lewinsky reiterates that while she “deeply regrets” what happened, she was not a victim.

“Sure, my boss took advantage of me,” Lewinsky writes, “but I will always remain firm on this point: it was a consensual relationship. Any ‘abuse’ came in the aftermath, when I was made a scapegoat in order to protect his powerful position.”

In the essay, Lewinsky writes about her struggle to find work all these years later and she says she “turned down offers that would have earned [her] more than $10 million, because they didn’t feel like the right thing to do.”

She chose to go public with her side of the story after hearing about the death of 18-year-old Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi, who committed suicide in 2010 after he was secretly filmed kissing another man.

“My own suffering took on a different meaning,” Lewinsky writes. “Perhaps by sharing my story, I reasoned, I might be able to help others in their darkest moments of humiliation. The question became: How do I find and give a purpose to my past?”

Lewinsky said she hopes to start speaking more publically about her past in an effort to help “victims of online humiliation and harassment.”

“I would like to offer her a public forum – not because of who she is but because I agree. The harassment online and the humiliation that those in power can do is awesome in its nature. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Glenn said. “Her story is the problem with who we are today. Somebody did wrong, and then instead of taking responsibility, they shifted the blame to everyone – including the person that they supposedly were happy with… They would throw anybody under the bus.”

Glenn remembers being on the air when all of this came out, and while he definitely cracked a few jokes at Lewinsky’s expense, he hopes he didn’t add too much fuel to the fire.

“I read this article last night. I was really touched by it. I really was. And I thought, you know, I’m sorry for any role I might have played in any of this,” Glenn said. “I remember doing monologues and going, ‘This is your daughter. You sent her to Washington, D.C. to intern at the White House. How would you feel as a dad? Think of her as your daughter.’ So I know that I was making that case at the time. But I know I also carried my fair share of stuff.”

Ultimately, Lewinsky’s article has caused Glenn to revaluate his personal view of the situation and the way it has been handled through the years.

“All she becomes is a blue dress and a beret joke and a political footnote… She’s 40. Think of that, and how much time has gone by. We’ve all gone on with our lives. She didn’t have one to go on to,” Glenn concluded. “The initial act was her choice. But she was saying that she didn’t come out and say anything because she didn’t think that it was right to… Isn’t that something that we would always salute? It’s somebody who did not cash in… I have respect for the way she did it.”

I always believe if this incident happened with Bush the 1st or Reagan who both came before Clinton, that both would have been drummed out of Washington. Clinton was a predator. Hard to believe so many women voted for him.http://patriotwood.com

Anonymous

I think you’re right. One of the issues here, even though she says it was consexual, is the power difference between to two of them. Look what happened to another big name fairly recently with a similar disparity of power between the participants — Gen Petraeus and the captain he had an affair with. Had he not fallen on his sword for this, you can bet the “power-inequality” angle would have been brought up with him, too.

http://www.patriotwood.com Art Pinney

That is an excellent point. It’s amazing how things work in our “fair” world. What’s good for one group is only good for that group and nobody else.

Anonymous

If Lewinski’s serious about wanting her behavior and subsequently thrown under the bus to have significant meaning then hopefully she has turned to God for forgiveness. Her mistakes would then come from a Biblical perspective and have an everlasting impact on her and those she helps.

Anonymous

Why does she have to turn to God to receive a fair shake in employment? You’re saying if someone is going through a hard time and doesn’t turn to God then it doesn’t mean anything?

Anonymous

I’m referring that to make a difference that truly changes lives for eternity God is the answer. There’s a difference between people needing help and those wanting help. Those wanting help will have a change of heart and only God can accomplish that with lasting results. Christians do turn to God in hard times knowing the answer to all life problems are resolved in His mercy, love and kindness. The heart is where healing really begins. That’s all I was saying.

Crassus

Poor Glenn beck. I think somebody has whipped him with a milksop stick.

Anonymous

I think Glenn is in love with Monica. This was an on-going affair and BOTH parties are guilty of their own participation. It makes no difference whether Monica owns up voluntarily or owned up before to make 10 million! Either way she’s the loser, while Billy had his fun and got away scot free. Look at all the money Billy’s been getting since his presidency. Nobody should feel sorry for Monica’s actions. She performed voluntarily and was old enough to make her own decisions and responsiblities.

Deckard426

The Democrats have a “way” with women. Ole Teddy had women trapped on his boat and drowned in cars, while Billy Boy had the state police round up chicks and haul them to his hotel rooms. Clinton should be in jail, and Teddy is probably already somewhere worse than that.

Anonymous

Go Girl!

http://www.absoluteintensity.com dennis reilly

so true what she says, I wonder how the Beyonce will respond

Jim

Consensual or not, she was an intern and he was her boss. Name any private business that wouldn’t toss the CEO out on his ear if that happened.

shashiznick

Uh, yeah Bill! It’s not okay to nail your interns.

http://suzeraining.wordpress.com/ suz

bclinton lied about ALL his affairs.

Ida Rathernotsay

I love how Glenn Beck wails that Monica was bullied then goes on to use his show as a platform to bully others ( hapless convenience store workers, teachers, policemen – the list of average people old man of the people Glenn doesn’t approve of is long). Though seeing as he sees himself as the second coming he probably figures Christ-like him doesn’t have to treat the smelly masses well.